USDA awards more than $28 million for specialty crop research

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Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced that USDA has awarded more than $28 million through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to solve critical specialty crop agriculture issues, address priorities and solve problems through multifunctional research and extension.

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative was established by the 2008 farm bill to support the specialty crop industry by developing and disseminating science-based tools to address needs of specific crops and their regions in five focus areas: 1) improve crop characteristics through plant breeding, genetics and genomics; 2) address threats from pests and diseases; 3) improve production efficiency , productivity and profitability; 4) develop new innovations and technologies and 5) develop methods to improve food safety. Each of the focus areas received at least 10 percent of the available funds. The majority of the funded projects address two or more focus areas.

The funded projects address research and Extension needs for crops that span the entire spectrum of specialty crops, from sustainable production systems for turf grass to mechanical fruit thinning devices for peach and apple. Except for projects that addressed plant breeding, genetics and genomics of specific crops, successful applicants simultaneously addressed needs in more than a single crop. Major projects were also funded to protect important specialty crops from invasive pests, such as citrus greening.

Although 17 institutions will manage the research/Extension grant funds from this program, each award includes collaborators from an average of three other states who will work together in a multi-disciplinary approach to solve problems. All of the awards required 100 percent matching funds from non-federal sources which will double the impact of the award dollars.

Fiscal Year 2008 SCRI research and Extension grants were awarded to:

– University of California-Davis, $3,221,134: Advanced Sensing and Management to Optimize Water and Nitrogen Use in Tree Crops.

– USDA/ARS U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, (Fla.), $991,591: Development of a Decision Support System for Managing Viral Watermelon Vine Decline and Other Vegetable Diseases Caused by Whitefly-Transmit.